A specially designed modular housing development supporting homeless people across London is seeing its first residents’ energy costs reduced to just £5 per week, thanks, in part, to the installation of six Vaillant heat pumps.
Located on Ermine Road in Tottenham, the award-winning scheme which is a partnership between Haringey Council and Hill Group, will provide a safe and secure living space to 33 homeless people while also meeting targets for the Future Home Standard ahead of its 2025 implementation.
The modular homes, known as ‘SoloHaus’, were manufactured by Volumetric Modular, a specialist manufacturer of custom-built solutions for the homeless, and donated to the council by Hill Group in conjunction with their Foundation 200 initiative. The company is donating 200 modular homes over the next five years.
As part of the scheme, which is situated on a former storage yard, six Vaillant aroTHERM plus air source heat pumps have been installed. The project’s two-storey design means that the 11kW heat pumps provide all of the domestic hot water and heating requirements to the 33 SoloHaus’ on site.
To further support Hill Group in delivering the project, Vaillant’s dedicated design team, which forms just one part of the manufacturer’s support offering, provided the developers with its expert design services to help with the heat loss calculations and heating system design of the SoloHaus. In addition, Vaillant also donated its team’s time to offer commissioning support during the project’s installation stages.
As a result of their future-proofed design, the homes have energy costs of £5 a week. The designs are ahead of the Future Homes Standards, which is not being introduced until 2025, and they are exceeding passive house regulations for energy efficiency and sound insulation. The SoloHaus have an estimated lifespan of 60 years, while their design means they can be easily transported and relocated as needed.
Steve Cipriano, Commercial Director at Vaillant commented: “Modern construction methods, such as modular housing, is a shining example of how the housebuilding industry is moving towards a sustainable future. The project on Ermine Road is a brilliant example of this, which has the added bonus of also making a positive difference to tackle homelessness in London. Looking ahead, we’re delighted to be supporting Hill Group on further projects using SoloHaus in Cambridge, Essex and Cornwall.
“The sustainable vision of this project, which was supported by the installation of the six aroTHERM plus heat pumps, means that not only will the Ermine Road development help to provide accommodation today, but by meeting the Future Home Standard ahead of its 2025 implementation, the properties, which have an expected lifespan of 60 years, will be able to provide accommodation to many more people too.”
Tom Hill at Hill Group added: “Supporting the communities in which we operate in has always been a focus for Hill Group, and the SoloHaus project in Haringey is something we’re incredibly proud of.
“Each SoloHaus is specially designed, furnished and fully equipped for a single person to move straight into. The modular homes provide independent spaces and a clean, safe and comfortable environment for residents to make the transition to more permanent accommodation. With the first residents moving in during October 2021, we’re already seeing the positive impact these homes are having on people’s lives and look forward to replicating the project in other areas across the UK.”
